Cherry-picked Statistics in UC Davis Dog Cancer Research Paper – Truth about Pet Food

August 25, 2023 Kar-Bay-Inc

Recently published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, “Changes in diet and supplement use in dogs with cancer” looked at what dogs were fed prior to and after a cancer diagnosis. While this type of research would certainly be beneficial to pet owners, in this case the researchers went off track and appeared to present their data with a specific goal in mind.

The study is from the University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, all participants were patients at the UC Davis hospital.

Dr. Jean Dodds reviewed the research, and found that in the middle of a paper supposedly related to dog cancer, the UC Davis Veterinary School researchers began discussing grain-free pet food and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). And…the UC Davis researchers attempted to plant the seed of a possible link between grain free pet food and cancer.

Quoting the UC Davis paper (bold added):

“There has been considerable attention to the association between dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs and the use of grain-free diets, and both veterinarians and pet owners might have increased awareness of this issue. Regardless, given that more than 1 in 5 dogs in the present study were fed a grain-free diet before a cancer diagnosis, this data highlights the need for clinicians to discuss the risk of diet-associated DCM with all dog owners.”

But…Dr. Dodds saw through the UC Davis potential plan to mislead readers.

Quoting Dr. Dodds review of the paper (bold added):

“Once we read the statement, which could alarm the audience, ‘more than 1 in 5 dogs in the present study were fed a grain-free diet before a cancer diagnosis…’ We delved into the numbers.

Let’s flip the statement: more than 1 in 5 dogs. The ‘more than’ is actually 22% in this study. So, that means that more than 3 in 4 dogs (78%) were fed a grain-inclusive diet prior to cancer diagnosis.”

Why would these researchers draw attention a 22% statistic (dogs fed grain-free dog food prior to cancer diagnosis) and completely ignore a 78% statistic (dogs fed a grain-inclusive dog food prior to cancer diagnosis)? What was their motivation to ignore their own data showing the majority of dogs in the study were fed a grain-inclusive dog food prior to a cancer diagnosis?

Perhaps the other issue Dr. Dodds spotted is a potential explanation… (from Dr. Dodds post) …

“The study authors became focused on the grain-free and home-prepared diet issues, such that their comments appeared skewed.

For example:

‘Kibble’ is mentioned in the text only once;
‘Raw’ is mentioned four times;
‘Grain-free’ is mentioned eight times;
‘Grain-based’ or ‘grain-inclusive’ is never mentioned; and,
‘Home-prepared’ is mentioned 31 times.”

What Dr. Dodds pointed out is significant to consider.

Were the researchers of UC Davis Veterinary School attempting to make a (misleading) link between grain-free dog food and dog cancer?

Were their actions in the paper intentional – did they knowingly try to shift the reader’s attention to create a misleading link of grain-free dog food to dog cancer? Or was it unintentional – is this paper evidence that some researchers have such a skewed perspective (perhaps influenced by Big Pet Feed donations) they cannot see the forest for the trees?

Pet owners can read the full UC Davis paper HERE.

Pet owners can read Dr. Jean Dodds review of the UC Davis paper HERE.

Our thanks to Dr. Dodds for her close look into this misleading research.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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